Scarlett Johansson, renowned actress and producer, has recently spoken out about her dispute with AI company OpenAI, shedding light on the vulnerability of individuals to the misuse of technology. Johansson shared her thoughts on the issue while promoting her latest film, Fly Me To The Moon.
During the event, Johansson expressed her concerns about the lack of legislation in place to protect people’s individual rights when it comes to AI. She stated, “We’re all waiting and supporting the passing of legislation to protect everybody’s individual rights. This highlights how vulnerable everybody is to [AI] and how little protection people do have – if any – of their work in their likeness.”
The clash between Johansson and OpenAI arose in May, when the actress discovered that her voice had been recreated without her consent for the company’s new ChatGPT system. She expressed shock and anger at the situation, particularly towards OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman. Altman had tweeted the word “her” on X, referencing a film in which Johansson voices an AI character that a human falls in love with.
Johansson revealed that Altman had approached her in September of last year to voice the current ChatGPT 4.0 system, but she had declined for personal reasons. OpenAI has since paused the use of Johansson’s voice, stating, “We’ve heard questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky. We are working to pause the use of Sky while we address them.”
In a recent UN AI conference, Altman clarified, “It’s not her voice. It’s not supposed to be. I’m sorry for the confusion. Clearly, you think it is.”
Actor Channing Tatum, who stars alongside Johansson in Fly Me To The Moon, also shared his concerns about the impact of AI on people’s livelihoods. He stated, “So many people are going to lose their jobs just to an AI that can do so much. I just can’t believe that’s not even a bigger story than it is right now.”
As the issue continues to gain attention, many are questioning the use of AI and its potential impact on individuals and society. With the rise of technology, it is crucial for legislation to be put in place to protect people’s rights and ensure responsible use of AI.